The Daily Telegraph Affair: When the Emperor Talked Too Much

The Content of the Fleet Interview

In the interview, which was based on conversations with British Colonel Edward Montagu-Stuart-Wortley, Wilhelm II portrayed himself as pro-British. Among other things, he claimed:

• He belonged to a pro-British minority in Germany.
• He had prevented Russia and France from taking action against England in the Boer War.
• His battle plan had enabled victory in the Boer War.
• The German naval armament was not directed against England, but against the Far East.

These presumptuous and tactless statements provoked not only England and Japan but also the German public. Particularly explosive: Only a few years earlier, the Emperor had congratulated the President of the Boer Republic on his victory over the British.

The Consequences of the Interview

The publication triggered a state crisis. Many even demanded the abdication of the Emperor, who had presented himself in an autocratic manner as an independent foreign policymaker. Chancellor Bernhard von Bülow offered his resignation.

He claimed not to have read the interview before it was authorized. However, he probably wanted to teach the Emperor a lesson to limit his claim to power. Wilhelm II had to hold back significantly as a result.

Conclusion: The Daily Telegraph interview led to a severe crisis in the Empire and a permanent loss of authority for the monarch

The Daily Telegraph interview showed how clumsy and presumptuous Wilhelm II was on the international stage. It led to a severe crisis in the Empire and a permanent loss of authority for the monarch. Ultimately, it was proof of the weaknesses of the political system and the Emperor's inability to cope with his role.